sv. František z Pauly

The statue of St. Francis of Paola stands in Pardubice next to an embankment with a stone bridge, on a spot it has occupied without interruption since 1805. It is a Baroque sandstone sculpture by Pardubice sculptor Jakub Teplý, created around 1765 as a counterpart to the nearby statue of St. John of Nepomuk. The two figures form a pair commissioned together and carried out in a matching style, though few visitors today recognize the less famous saint standing beside the well-known patron of bridges.

Who was Francis of Paola, and why does he stand in Pardubice?

Francis of Paola was a 15th-century Italian saint and founder of the Minim friars, a branch of the Franciscan family known for an especially austere rule. His veneration never became widespread in Bohemia, which makes the Pardubice statue an unusually rare depiction of him on Czech soil. The choice was not arbitrary: Baroque patrons frequently commissioned matched pairs of saintly protectors — one locally prominent figure (John of Nepomuk, patron of bridges and protector against flooding) paired with a second saint who extended the iconographic program. Placing the statue by the bridge and embankment echoed the protective role both saints were meant to play over the crossing and the town.

What does the statue look like?

Francis of Paola is shown according to traditional iconography as an elderly, full-bearded man dressed in a Franciscan habit. He stands in a gentle contrapposto, weight resting on his left leg, hands clasped over his chest, head turned upward in ecstatic prayer. On either side of the pedestal, decorated with Rococo ornament, sit a pair of putti on clouds; one holds an oval cartouche inscribed "CHARITAS" (charity), the saint's traditional attribute. Despite a somewhat formulaic pose, the work is considered one of Teplý's finest — its treatment recalls his wood-carving technique, translated here into stone.

Who made the statue, and from what material?

The statue is carved from sandstone quarried at Škrovád near Slatiňany, a stone typical of East Bohemian Baroque sculpture of the period. Its author, Jakub Teplý (1729–1802), was a Pardubice sculptor active in the second half of the 18th century. He created the piece around 1765, from the outset conceived as a pendant to the neighboring statue of St. John of Nepomuk.

What is the history of this location?

The statue has stood at its current spot since 1805, when the embankment and stone bridge were built and both monuments were installed alongside it. In 2005 it underwent a thorough restoration, which preserved the fine detail of the Rococo pedestal and the saint's figure. The East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice (Východočeské muzeum v Pardubicích) is responsible for its care.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Francis of Paola? A 15th-century Italian saint who founded the Minim friars, an austere branch of the Franciscan order. His cult never spread widely in Bohemia, making this a rare Czech depiction.

When was the statue made? Around 1765, in the workshop of Jakub Teplý.

What material is it made of? Sandstone from the quarry at Škrovád near Slatiňany.

Why does it stand next to the statue of St. John of Nepomuk? The two statues were commissioned as a pair, executed in the same style, meant to jointly watch over the embankment and bridge crossing.

Has the statue been restored? Yes, it underwent restoration in 2005.

What does the "CHARITAS" inscription on the cartouche mean? It is Latin for charity, the principal attribute associated with St. Francis of Paola.

Who currently looks after the monument? The East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice.